Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Reds pound McRae in his first start
Associated Press
CINCINNATI
All nine Reds crossed the plate in a parade unseen in Cincinnati since the days of the Big Red Machine. All the down-and-out Pirates could do was watch glumly.
Jose Iglesias’ grand slam completed Cincinnati’s 10-run second inning and the Reds beat the Pirates 11-6 Monday night after Pittsburgh traded scheduled starter Jordan Lyles to the Brewers.
The last-place Pirates lost their ninth straight, their longest skid since they dropped 10 in a row in 2011.
“It’s hard right now, there’s no doubt about it,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “We battle adversity in different areas just about every night.”
Lyles was dealt to Milwaukee — which has an injury-depleted rotation — in the afternoon for pitching prospect Cody Ponce. Alex McRae (0-3) took Lyles’ spot, his first major league start after seven relief appearances. He retired only four batters and was replaced during Cincinnati’s biggest inning in four years.
McRae learned when he got to the ballpark about four hours before game time that he was going to make his first start.
“I was excited, obviously a little bit of nerves the first inning,” McRae said. “No excuses though.”
Ten days earlier, the Reds gave up a 10-run inning by the Cardinals during a 12-11 loss at Great American Ball Park. This time, they were on the other end of one .
They piled up six hits and three walks while sending 13 batters to the plate. Joey Votto singled home a pair of runs, first baseman Josh Bell had a throwing error, and Iglesias’ second career grand slam off Montana DuRapau made it 10-1.
After he rounded the bases, Iglesias rubbed his hair in the dugout and told teammates he’d make good on a promise.
“I told them before the game that ‘If I hit a home run, I would paint my hair like you guys,”’ Iglesias said.
What color?
“Purple or yellow,” he said.
Every Reds player scored in an inning for the first time since Sept. 3, 1975, when they beat the Dodgers 13-2, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Cincinnati hadn’t scored so many runs in an inning since it also had 10 in the sixth against Detroit on Aug. 24, 2015.
“That doesn’t happen a lot, but we’ve been so in tune with our players and our offense these days,” manager David Bell said. “An inning like that can be really good for offense.”
Sonny Gray (6-6) gave up four runs in 51/3 innings, including Starling Marte’s 18th homer and Bryan Reynolds’ ninth. Colin Moran hit his third career grand slam off Wandy Peralta.
The game matched the NL Central’s bottom teams. The Pirates have anchored themselves in last place by going 2-15 after the All-Star break, prompting them to trade Lyles two days before the deadline.
BAD KARMA
During that 17-game stretch, the Pirates have led only three times after the fifth inning.
NEWCOMER
DuRapau was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Lyles’ spot on the roster. He pitched in 10 games during three previous stints with the Pirates this season.
KEEP GOING
Hurdle says the Pirates have incentive to keep playing hard even as they trade away players.
“There’s an honor code out there about continuing to play,” Hurdle said pregame.